After the minor interlude.
That brief encounter was nothing more than an insignificant chance meeting.
For Suō Tsukasa, meeting Aizen didn't cause much of a psychological ripple. Even as someone standing at the pinnacle of the Soul Society, Aizen could not possibly plant the seeds of Kyoka Suigetsu within him without bypassing his spiritual awareness, skipping the initial release, and acting in total silence.
Otherwise, there would have been no need for Aizen to demonstrate his ability before all the Lieutenants in the original story.
"Captain Aizen is really good to his subordinates."
"Even as busy as the Captains are, he still finds time to personally accompany new recruits to buy clothes. He's truly considerate."
Kotane Kiyane whispered with a sigh of admiration as she watched the warm and harmonious scene of the Fifth Division group.
"Our Captain Ukitake's care for everyone is certainly no less than that."
Suō Tsukasa chuckled softly upon hearing this. His tone was natural, devoid of any hint of comparison or doubt; he was simply stating a fact.
"True."
Kotane Kiyane readily agreed with that sentiment. In her heart, Captain Ukitake's weight was naturally incomparable to anyone else.
"Alright, alright, both Captains are great."
Matsumoto Rangiku pursed her red lips slightly, clearly not having much interest in topics related to Captains. Changing the subject, she looked down at the silent Toshiro beside her and asked.
"Toshiro, what's the deal with you and that girl Hinamori?"
"Looking at you two just now, are you acquaintances?"
"Neighbors."
Toshiro didn't even lift his eyelids, replying with two brief words.
Matsumoto Rangiku drew out her tone, her eyes sparkling with an interested light.
"Doesn't seem like it—you two seem very close, and you joined the Gotei 13 at around the same time. Childhood friends?"
She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping between Toshiro's youthful, boyish profile and the direction Hinamori Momo had gone, her smile deepening.
"Though she is quite a bit taller than you, so she should be considered the older sister next door."
"You're so noisy, shut up!"
At the mention of height, a vein seemed to throb slightly at Toshiro's temple. Feeling the teasing hidden beneath Matsumoto Rangiku's inquiry, he had no intention of humoring the woman. He shot her a glare and decisively ended the pointless conversation.
"Pfft—"
Beside them, Kotane Kiyane couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. Suō Tsukasa remained expressionless, having grown accustomed to this. Being able to take a jab at Toshiro while gossiping was truly her style.
As they chatted, Aizen finished paying for the recruits' items and turned to leave. Before departing, the two men of similar height met each other's gaze in the air without flinching. It was a brief look, a level gaze so short it was almost negligible.
Aizen's glasses reflected the warm light of the shop, making the expression in his eyes hard to read. He nodded in acknowledgment to Suō Tsukasa and the others. Suō Tsukasa's expression remained normal as he smiled and politely returned the nod.
Keenly noticing the actions of those around her, Matsumoto Rangiku tilted her head. Recalling Aizen's previous remark about having "heard of his name for a long time," she said with some uncertainty.
"I feel like Captain Aizen... seems to appreciate you quite a bit?"
"Your temperaments are a bit similar, too."
Watching Aizen lead his people away from the corner of his eye, Suō Tsukasa withdrew his gaze, his tone flat.
"Perhaps. After all, there aren't many students who can graduate from the Academy in such a short time like Toshiro and me."
"As a special guest instructor, it's only human nature for Captain Aizen to show a bit more attention and appreciation toward outstanding graduates."
He didn't bother further exploring the meaning behind Aizen's words or actions. To him, while Aizen was the big boss, it was still early days. Trying to fathom the mind of such a deep character wasn't as important as the task of purchasing New Year's gifts. Suō Tsukasa didn't like overcomplicating things; thinking too much tended to cause a headache.
"That's true."
Matsumoto Rangiku nodded in agreement. As her fingertips brushed against a piece of soft fabric, she turned her head.
"Tsukasa, look at this wisteria purple. It should be nice as a shawl for Miss Terada."
"And this dark red is very suitable for your Sister Tamaki, don't you think?"
Although she had never formally met them, through their daily chats, Matsumoto Rangiku was no longer a stranger to the two women of the Terada House, and she was quite confident in her own taste.
"Yes, both the texture and the color are excellent."
Suō Tsukasa stepped forward to take a closer look and nodded. In all fairness, one was purple and one was red, and both colors were very beautiful, but he couldn't see much of a difference between them. Looking at the fabric didn't bring many images to his mind; he couldn't construct a specific visual of how they would look worn. Their commonality at this moment was limited to his previous answer.
"Miss Rangiku has good taste; they will suit them well."
By contrast, as a regular at the Terada House, Kotane Kiyane had a lot to say. She leaned in to look and confirmed it.
"Buy them!"
Suō Tsukasa nodded without hesitation. His decisive choice brought smiles to the faces of the two women. Trusting the taste of female companions was the most efficient way to make a decision at this moment.
Toshiro was also silently contemplating a gift for his grandmother, his gaze eventually resting on an earth-toned fabric.
"That one won't do. The color is too heavy; it looks dull."
"For an elderly person in winter, warm colors are more pleasant to look at. This one is good!"
Matsumoto Rangiku voiced her opinion bluntly regarding his taste and helped him pick. Toshiro's eyes flickered, but he didn't answer. However, he still accepted her suggestion, seriously taking the camel-yellow fabric she handed over. Even if the advice came from a certain annoying person who loved to tease him.
Next, Suō Tsukasa's gaze swept across the display of accessories, and he chose several sashes of different colors. Besides those for his own use, there were some for gifts as well. He had the proprietress wrap these small items separately and paid for them along with the larger items chosen earlier, marking a successful end to the New Year's gift shopping.
Stepping outside, Matsumoto Rangiku stamped her feet lightly to dispel the sudden chill. She turned her head and asked.
"Tsukasa, do you have anything else to buy?"
"That's everything."
"Where to next?"
"How about going for a drink? I know a newly opened izakaya nearby that's quite good."
"Steaming hot oden is just right for this weather."
Matsumoto Rangiku stretched, her eyes sparkling with a bright light under the streetlamps as she made the happy suggestion. The idea made her squint her eyes, as if she could already feel the warmth from the cup.
"Overruled."
"You still have many division duties to handle tomorrow."
As the Third Seat assisting the Lieutenant, Toshiro immediately spoke up, his tone categorical.
"—Toshiro, you're so strict! It's not like I'm going to run away from those tasks!"
Listening to the lively bickering starting up again, Suō Tsukasa shifted the parcels in his hands, feeling the weight of the gifts. He looked up at the sky where the snow had stopped and the clouds had cleared. There, the stars were beginning to shine.
"Let's go."
"Just drink a little less."
He said with a smile, his voice blending into the cool night breeze. He was very happy tonight. Moreover, Matsumoto Rangiku had led the way and offered many suggestions, providing him with substantial help. Based on that, Suō Tsukasa naturally felt he should fulfill her request.
"Yay!"
Matsumoto Rangiku immediately beamed, not forgetting to wink triumphantly at Toshiro. Toshiro turned his head away, letting out a barely audible huff, but he didn't voice any further opposition. He trusted Suō Tsukasa's sense of propriety, and he himself would be watching from the side.
The night deepened, and the light from the lanterns formed a long, warm river.